BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Class 1A Hilliard scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to handing the Bradford High School baseball team a 9-7 loss on April 4 in Hilliard.
Class 3A Bradford scored the game’s first three runs. Jeffrey Brugh hit a triple to lead off the top of the first and scored on a Luke Stucky ground out. Denver Hudson hit an RBI single with two outs, followed by Mattox Burgin scoring on a balk.
It was 3-3 when the Tornadoes scored one in the fifth. An error with two outs on a ground ball hit by Burgin scored Ryland Rike, who reached on a walk.
That would be Bradford’s last lead.
Hudson and Brugh went 2 for 3 and 2 for 4, respectively, with one RBI each.
Bradford also got one RBI each from Rike, Stucky and Patrick Pendarvis.
The Tornadoes host Class 1A Union County on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. and will travel to play Class 1A Hamilton County on Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. Bradford returns home to play Class 4A Baker County on Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m.
Bradford travels to play Class 1A Fort White on Monday, April 15, at 6 p.m. before returning home to play Class 3A Keystone Heights on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
